Mbalenhle Mpanza | Earth Sciences | Women Researcher Award

Dr. Mbalenhle Mpanza | Earth Sciences | Women Researcher Award

Dr. Mbalenhle Mpanza, University of Johannesburg, South Africa

Dr. Mpanza earned her PhD in Science from the University of the Witwatersrand in 2022, complementing her MBA (2020) and MSc in Geostatistics (2015). She has extensive experience in geological mapping, resource estimation, and academic instruction. Currently, she is a Senior Lecturer at the University of Johannesburg, where she teaches courses in mining engineering and geological modeling. Dr. Mpanza has published multiple research papers on mining impacts and air quality, actively contributing to international conferences. In 2023, she received a grant under the Black Academics Advancement Programme (BAAP) from the National Research Fund. ๐ŸŒŸ

Publication Profile

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Academic Background

PhD in Science (2022) from the University of the Witwatersrand, indicating a high level of expertise and commitment to research.

MBA and MSc in Engineering (Geostatistics), showcasing a blend of technical and management skills.

Professional Experience

Senior Lecturer at the University of Johannesburg, where she teaches and supervises students in mining and geology. This role demonstrates her commitment to education and mentorship, particularly towards young women in a traditionally male-dominated field.

Previous positions as Associate Lecturer and Resource Geologist, where she has actively contributed to both academia and industry.

Research Contributions

Authored and co-authored several published papers addressing significant issues in the mining industry, including health impacts and environmental concerns associated with mining operations.

Engaged in impactful research projects, such as dust exposure and management at mining sites, contributing to public health and safety

Conclusion

Dr. Mpanzaโ€™s extensive academic and professional achievements, coupled with her advocacy for women in the mining industry, position her as an exemplary candidate for the Research for Women Researcher Award. Her dedication to research, education, and community engagement aligns well with the values and objectives of the award, making her a deserving nominee.

 

Publication Top Notes

  • Dust deposition impacts at a liquidated gold mine village: Gauteng province in South Africa ๐ŸŒ – Cited by 26 – 2020
  • A critical review of the impact of South Africaโ€™s mine closure policy and the winding-up process of mining companies ๐Ÿ“‰ – Cited by 18 – 2021
  • Perceptions of external costs of dust fallout from gold mine tailings: West Wits Basin ๐Ÿ’จ – Cited by 13 – 2020
  • South Africa’s electricity disaster is an air quality disaster, too โšก – Cited by 4 – 2023
  • The Potential Health Costs of PM10 Impacts on a Gold Mine Village, during Company Liquidation: An Analysis of 2013โ€“2017 ๐Ÿ’ฐ – Cited by 4 – 2022
  • The influence of work pressure on worker attitudes towards health and safety in a platinum mining stope โš’๏ธ – Cited by 4 – 2018
  • The throughput of mining engineering students in the University of Johannesburg (2009 to 2013 cohorts) ๐ŸŽ“ – Cited by 3 – 2014
  • The assessment of the external costs of dust fallout in Blyvooruitzicht Gold Mining Village ๐Ÿž๏ธ – Cited by 2 – 2019
  • A comparison of ordinary and simple kriging on a PGE resource in the Eastern limb of the Bushveld Complex ๐Ÿ“Š – Cited by 2 – 2015
  • Graduate unemployment in the South African mining sector: a case study of mining graduates of the University of Johannesburg ๐Ÿ“š – Cited by 1 – 2017

ย 

 

Ferede Abuye Jeldu | Environmental Science | Best Researcher Award

Dr. Ferede Abuye Jeldu | Environmental Science | Best Researcher Award

Dr. Ferede Abuye Jeldu, Mettu University, Ethiopia

Dr. Ferede Abuye Jeldu: A Suitable Candidate for the Best Researcher Award

Publication profile

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Academic Background ๐ŸŽ“

Dr. Ferede Abuye Jeldu holds a PhD in Climate Change and Bioenergy Development from Hawassa University, Ethiopia, completed in July 2024. He also possesses a Master’s degree in Environmental Science from Ambo University (2015) and a Bachelor’s degree in Forest Management and Utilization from Hawassa University (2011). His educational qualifications provide a solid foundation for his research in climate change, bioenergy, and forest management.

Professional Experience ๐ŸŒณ

Dr. Jeldu has extensive experience in academia and research. He has served as a lecturer and head of the Department of Forestry at Mettu University (2018-2019) and as a lecturer and researcher at Assosa University (2016-2017). His experience extends to practical roles, including working as a lumberman and forest utilization expert at the Oromia Forest and Wildlife Enterprise. These roles have equipped him with valuable insights into both academic and field-based forestry practices.

Training and Certifications ๐Ÿ…

Dr. Jeldu has participated in numerous professional training programs and certifications. Notably, he received a certificate of service from the African Forest Forum for sharing insights on forest and tree-based ecosystem services for climate change resilience. He has also been recognized by the UN-REDD Program for his contributions to environmental impact assessment and environmental auditing. His active involvement in environmental education is evident in his leadership of training programs for local farmers on climate variability.

Research Grants and Fellowships ๐Ÿ’ผ

Dr. Jelduโ€™s research endeavors are supported by prestigious fellowships and grants, including the IPCC 6th Round Scholarships Programme and the African Forest Forum Research Fellowship fund. These awards underscore his commitment to advancing knowledge in climate change and sustainable forestry.

Skills and Expertise ๐Ÿง‘โ€๐Ÿ’ป

Dr. Jeldu is proficient in collecting and analyzing climate, vegetation, and soil data, as well as conducting forest inventory assessments. His technical skills extend to the use of GIS applications for forest resource assessment and proficiency in statistical software such as R, SPSS, and FDiversity. These skills are vital for conducting comprehensive environmental and forestry research.

Publication Top Notes

  • ๐ŸŒพ “Climate Change Adaptation Strategies of Smallholder Farmers: The Case of Bedele District, Bunno Bedele Zone, Oromia Region, Ethiopia” โ€“ FA Jeldu, A Ochocho, AL Duguma, Cited by: 4, Year: 2023
  • ๐ŸŒณ “The Role of Forest Information in Addressing Climate Change: REDD+, NDCs, Enhanced Transparency Framework, and Ecosystem Restoration” โ€“ FA Jeldu, Mettu University,

Conclusion ๐Ÿ†

Dr. Ferede Abuye Jeldu’s extensive academic background, professional experience, and active involvement in research and training make him a highly suitable candidate for the Best Researcher Award. His dedication to climate change mitigation, forest management, and community education aligns with the award’s objectives, showcasing his potential for significant contributions to the field.

Lev Eppelbaum | Environmental Science | Academic Impactful Innovation Award

Lev Eppelbaum | Environmental Science | Academic Impactful Innovation Award

Prof Dr Lev Eppelbaum Tel Aviv University Israel

Dr. Lev Eppelbaum is a distinguished geophysicist with extensive academic and research experience. He obtained his MSc in Geophysics from Azerbaijan State University of Oil and Industry (1982) and his PhD from the All-Union Geophysical Institute (1989). His postdoctoral studies at Tel Aviv University focused on geophysical field interpretation in the Dead Sea Rift region (1993). He has held various prestigious positions, including Senior Researcher and Research Professor, contributing significantly to geophysical and planetary sciences. Currently, he serves as a professor at Azerbaijan State Oil and Industry University, specializing in geophysics and earth sciences. His work has profound implications in oil and gas exploration and planetary studies. ๐ŸŒ‹๐Ÿ”ฌ๐Ÿ“š

Publication profile

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Education

From 1977 to 1982, the individual attended the Azerbaijan State University of Oil and Industry in Baku, Azerbaijan, where they earned a Master of Science (MSc) in Geophysics in 1982. They then pursued a PhD in Geophysics from 1985 to 1989 at the All-Union Geophysical Institute, Southern Department in Baku, in collaboration with the Institute of Geophysics, Georgian Academy of Sciences in Tbilisi, and the Moscow Mining Academy, receiving their degree in 1989. Furthering their studies, they completed a postdoctoral fellowship at the Department of Geophysics & Planetary Sciences at Tel Aviv University from 1991 to 1993, focusing on the interpretation and modeling of potential geophysical fields in the Dead Sea Rift region ๐Ÿ“š๐ŸŒ๐ŸŽ“.

Experience

๐Ÿ“… From 1977 to 1982, worked as a Technician and Senior Technician at the All-Union Geological Institute of Geophysics and Non-Ferrous & Rare Metals, Baku, Azerbaijan, focusing on summer seasons. ๐ŸŒ Between September 1982 and July 1983, served as a Geophysicist at the same institute. ๐Ÿ’ผ From July 1983 to March 1988, held the position of Researcher in Gravity & Magnetics at the All-Union Geophysical Institute. ๐Ÿ“Š From March 1988 to December 1990, worked as a Senior Researcher. โœจ Between July 1991 and April 1995, was a Researcher in Geophysical, Atmospheric, and Planetary Sciences at Tel Aviv University, Israel. ๐Ÿ”ฌ Subsequently, held various roles including Senior Researcher, Senior Lecturer, and Research Professor until 2005. ๐ŸŽ“ From October 2020, serves as an Honorary Professor at Azerbaijan State Oil & Industry University.

International Awards

๐ŸŒŸ The Christian Huygens Medal of the European Geosciences Union (2018-2019) was awarded for a series of significant contributions in geophysics. ๐Ÿ“š The recipient’s scholarly impact is remarkable, boasting 6,589 citations and an h-index of 43 on Google Scholar. ๐Ÿ“Š On ResearchGate, their work has garnered 226,200 downloads, 760 recommendations, and a research interest score of 3,957, reflecting their extensive influence in the field. ๐ŸŒ Their achievements underscore a profound dedication to advancing geophysical sciences. ๐Ÿ…

Academic and professionalย  Awards

From 1981 to 1983, Lev Eppelbaum worked with the Ministry of Geology of the USSR on integrating surface and underground geophysical observations in the Belokan-Zakatal ore field, and conducted combined interpretations of geophysical fields in gold-bearing deposits of the Lesser Caucasus. ๐Ÿ”๏ธ๐Ÿ” Between 1983 and 1984, he focused on geophysical analysis in the Saatly SuperDeep well area with the Academy of Sciences of the USSR. ๐Ÿž๏ธ From 1984 to 1987, he developed methods for interpreting potential geophysical fields for the Ministry of Geology. Between 1986 and 1987, Eppelbaum conducted integrated geophysical investigations of the Middle Kur Depression for hydrocarbon prospecting. ๐Ÿ›ข๏ธ๐Ÿ“Š Throughout 1985 to 1989, he was involved in modeling and zonation in Azerbaijan, and interpreting fields in polymetallic and gold deposits in the Lesser and Greater Caucasus. ๐Ÿ”ฌโš’๏ธ In 1989-1990, he worked on physical-geological substantiation and quantitative interpretation of geophysical data across the Azerbaijan-Caspian Sea-Western Turkmenistan geotraverse. ๐ŸŒ๐Ÿ“ˆ From 1991 to 1996 in Israel, he advanced interpretations of potential fields, developed software for 3D modeling in the Dead Sea Rift, and investigated the Eastern Mediterranean’s deep structure. ๐ŸŒŠ๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ฑ He also worked on quantitative interpretation procedures and applied modern techniques in archaeological sites. ๐Ÿ›๏ธ๐Ÿงฉ

Research focus

Dr. L. Eppelbaum, renowned for his contributions in applied geothermics and interpretation of geophysical fields in complex environments, specializes in thermal properties of rocks, fluid densities, and crustal structures in the Levant Basin and eastern Mediterranean. His research emphasizes integrating geophysical data to understand subsurface structures and tectonic processes, crucial for energy exploration and geological hazard assessment. ๐ŸŒ Eppelbaum’s work bridges theoretical insights with practical applications, addressing challenges in salt tectonics and crustal evolution along the Dead Sea Transform and Levant continental margin, advancing geoscience’s understanding of regional geological dynamics.

publication top notes

Applied geothermics

Crustal structure of the Levant Basin, eastern Mediterranean

Thermal properties of rocks and density of fluids

Interpretation of geophysical fields in complicated environments

The Levantine Basinโ€”crustal structure and origin

TOPO-EUROPE: The geoscience of coupled deep Earth-surface processes

The crustal structure of the Dead Sea Transform

The structure, isostasy and gravity field of the Levant continental margin and the southeast Mediterranean area

Geology and evolution of the southern Dead Sea fault with emphasis on subsurface structure

Salt tectonics off northern Israel